Compare Contrast Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Sample

Malcolm x and Martin Luther King Jr. are both powerful leaders. Malcolm X believed in violence and Martin Luther King believed in nonviolence. These two leader shared belief and hopes but they also had their differences. Malcolm X was born in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925. Malcolm did not believe in nonviolence or advocate integration. (Harold 610) He attracted black people’s attention and was eloquent, passionate, and a courageously out spoken champion of black people and a critic of American racism.(Harold 610) Malcolm popularity created tension between himself and the leadership of the nation of Islam. His militant advocacy of self-defense that deprives African Americans of basic human rights, helped radicalized other black leaders of the civil rights movement. The X in Malcolm x name represents the unknown name of his African ancestors and their culture that had been lost during slavery.

The reason why Malcolm X did not believe in non-violence Because Martin Luther King Jr’s peaceful approach at gaining civil rights and failed, so many blacks including Malcolm X believed that to gain power they needed to make something happen, which turned out to be violence.(Johnson 12) Also Malcolm x believe in the right of African Americans. He wanted to show the crimes that the white people in America were doing against the African Americans. He also wanted to bring attention to the important things performed by African Americans. The reason why he is important because he wanted to reach out to young Americans that felt like the civil right was not achieving anything and he made civil right a civil right movement. Malcolm X view of violence was if anyone uses violence on you first then you should always defend yourself with the violence that is being used to keep you alive.

Martin Luther king Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. He reflected often on his understanding of nonviolence. King did not experience the power of nonviolent direct action ﬁrst-hand until the start of the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955. (King 79) Through the practical experience of leading nonviolent protest, King came to understand how nonviolence could become a way of life, applicable to all situations (King 83). I feel that during the boycott king really believed in nonviolence without using any harm of weapons. In other hand Malcolm x probably would have use weapons to protect himself because he was a fan of violence.

Martin Luther king jr wanted to put an end to racism and make peace for the world. In my opinion King fought violent verbally with his speeches. He was a strong powerful leader. Also he wanted everyone to be treated equally and be able to go to the same place without worrying about the skin completion. On January 20, 1985, the United States officially observed martin Luther king Jr day for the first time. (Harold 679)

The similarities between Martin Luther King jr and Malcolm X is they both were transformational leaders who were instrumental in raising public awareness of a problem of inequality, only King’s methods could have been successful in bringing about the desired outcome of the movement.( king 2010) Also they both were influential and wanted to reach out to African Americans people.